Graphic Design News

Freelance photographer and collage artist Leneé Freeman, a 2011 Visual Communication Design graduate, is mid-way through her Urban Arts Leadership Program fellowship. The UALP is a Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance program that facilitates persons of color training in arts management, social justice, and professional development. This ten-month fellowship includes four months of intensive weekend training and six months working with Baltimore arts organizations.

Leneé’s arts administration placements are with Baltimore Clayworks and Single Carrot Theatre. Leneé’s Clayworks projects included photographing ceramics for a catalog and helping the organization promote its classes and events. Her role at Single Carrot Theatre includes event promotions and administrative support.

When asked how she has grown personally, professionally and creatively as a result of this fellowship, Leneé explains that her time management and still life photography skills have improved greatly. She has also gained insight into how organizations use social media platforms.

An activity that is included in the fellowship training is for all fellows to raise $500. for a personal art project. Leneé's Indegogo fundraising campaign is titled “Shades of Brown: diversity and inclusion.” This collage series was started by Leneé after she noticed that “other paper portrait artist didn't make paper people that I could relate to I began making my own. My mission was to create paper illustrations with diverse shades of brown and body images. They represent inclusion and to showcase dynamic fashions, lifestyles, and beauty among various shades of brown complexions in the African American community.”

The Stevenson University community is encouraged to support this project. To learn more about this project click on this link. The first fellow to reach the campaign goal receives an additional $500.

Stevenson University seniors or recent grads are encouraged to apply for this fellowship. The application deadline is early May and the fellowship begins in September. Feel free to contact Lori Rubeling, lrubeling@stevenson.edu or go to GBCA’s web site, for more information on the UALP application.

Derrick Cullen, the Assistant Studio Manager in the School of Design, is participating in a writing retreat, Writers & Woods. The retreat is being held by the community organization, Writers & Words. Writers & Words is a monthly Baltimore reading series led by local writers Michelle Junot and Michael Tager. The retreat will be held from March 16th –19th in Cacapon Resort State Park in West Virginia.

Christopher Metzger's community-based photo work in East Baltimore was featured in the Baltimore Sun. Yvonne Hardy-Phillips' curated a public art project titled “You Are Here”.

Hardy-Phillips commissioned 8 artists from MICA to create the murals. The project transformed the sides of two buildings into murals. The purpose of the murals is to recognize the area as a “vital part of Baltimore.”

Christopher Metzger contributed with black-and-white portraits of key members in the East Baltimore community (as seen above).

Long-time adjunct Jim Condron was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. His achievement was also recognized by the Baltimore Sun. The grant is worth $30,000 and is awarded to artists to aid them financially so they may continue their work.

On December 9th at MICA, Inna Alesina spoke about her Bread Zoo and demonstrated how to make bread from scratch. The event took place during Interaction, Intersection, Action. Students and MICA visitors learned how to make the dough and took it home to bake. Bread Zoo’s goal is to build community through hands on experiences and design.